Punjab’s Excise and Taxation Department has expanded its GST base by adding over 79,000 new taxpayers through targeted Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration drives in 2023-24 and up to December 2024, according to Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The state has also launched awareness initiatives to improve tax compliance and prevent revenue leakages.
Cheema stated that the department’s registration drives resulted in the addition of 46,338 new taxpayers in 2023-24 and approximately 33,000 more in the current financial year till December. Another GST registration campaign began in January 2025, covering around 48,000 new dealers and successfully registering 10,500 eligible businesses across Punjab.
Statewide Campaign to Educate Taxpayers
The government has initiated a campaign to educate taxpayers on GST filing procedures, Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims, and compliance benefits. Various community engagement methods, including awareness camps and interactions with industry bodies, Chartered Accountants, advocates, and accountants, have been employed to improve participation.
Cheema emphasised that expanding the GST base is crucial for boosting revenue, reducing tax evasion, and ensuring a fair taxation system. The department has also extended the “Bill Liyao Inaam Pao Scheme,” encouraging consumer participation in tax compliance.
Encouraging Consumer Participation
The “Bill Liyao Inaam Pao Scheme” seeks to enhance consumer awareness and ensure tax compliance at the retail level. The initiative has involved school and college students to promote tax awareness among the younger generation. Under the scheme, the government has imposed penalties worth Rs 8.15 crore on non-compliant taxpayers while rewarding 4,106 consumers with Rs 2.45 crore for uploading their purchase bills on the Mera Bill app.
Technology-Driven Compliance Measures
To improve tax compliance, the department has collaborated with IIT Hyderabad to integrate advanced data analytics. New adjudication and scrutiny modules have been introduced to detect and prevent revenue leakages. The government reports that 93% of registered taxpayers have been consistently filing their returns on time.
“The adoption of technology and data analytics will strengthen our tax administration, ensuring transparency and preventing evasion,” Cheema said. The department is also penalising tax evaders and tightening compliance measures to safeguard state revenue.
New Digital Initiatives for Financial Transparency
On Tuesday, Cheema inaugurated three IT-based financial modules aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in state finances, particularly in pension administration. The launch of the Pensioner Sewa Portal (PSP) marks a significant step in ensuring timely pension disbursements and addressing grievances effectively.
“The PSP will streamline pension processing from treasuries to banks, reducing delays, enabling real-time tracking, and ensuring efficient grievance handling,” Cheema said. He added that the portal’s extensive database would assist the state in making informed decisions for pensioners’ welfare.
The government’s digital initiatives and compliance measures highlight Punjab’s focus on financial transparency, taxpayer education, and revenue enhancement. These efforts aim to create a more robust tax system while promoting ease of compliance for businesses and consumers.
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